News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

Antrim PSNI top brass are in the dock this week following a controversial decision not to go public about the discovery of a handgun in the grounds of a local primary school.

The potentially deadly weapon had been recklessly dumped in a leafy corner of Parkhall Primary's grounds and there it lay until it was spotted by a 13-year-old boy who, convinced it was a toy, carried it home.

The boy's parents felt that it was more than a frighteningly convincing replica, however, and called the police.

Officers later confirmed that it was not a toy. The weapon concealed yards from where children played had been adapted to fire 9mm rounds.

That was on Saturday but it would be days before the shocking discovery came to light - and even then it had nothing to do with the PSNI.

The wall of silence came crashing down on Tuesday when the school sent home a note to shocked parents. It confirmed that a pistol had been found three days previously and urged parents to remind children to report any 'suspicious objects' they might find. The school has been widely praised for breaking the media blackout, but amid the political outrage the police have also come under fire for remaining tight-lipped.

Riled reps said the PSNI response was at odds with the very public security alert that followed the discovery of a pipebomb in the grounds of St Comgall's Primary School last year.
(Source: Antrim Guardian)
Armagh

The family of the Newry pensioner brutally murdered by her next door neighbor has welcomed the 20-year jail term imposed on the woman convicted of the crime.

On Friday Karen Walsh, a 45-year-old pharmacist who was found guilty earlier this month of murdering Maire Rankin (81), was told she must serve a minimum of twenty years before being considered for parole.

Mrs Rankin was found in her Dublin Road home on Christmas Day in 2008. She had been beaten with a crucifix and sexually assaulted. The frail pensioner also suffered 15 broken ribs in the attack.

Sentencing Walsh, Mr Justice Hart said she had inflicted a brutal and sustained assault on a frail and vulnerable pensioner.

“The exceptional vulnerability of Mrs Rankin and the deliberately degrading way in which she was treated after her death mean that the minimum term must be a severe one to reflect the gravity of this truly heinous crime,” he told the court.

He said Walsh had offered no explanation, that her account of her visit to Mrs Rankin had been ‘bizarre’ and one which the jury had clearly not accepted. He also revealed that in psychiatric reports, one consultant described her as “guarded, suspicious and defensive”.
(Source: Crossexmainer.co.uk)

Carlow

Traffic around the Askea area has been described as highly dangerous by parents who have repeatedly called for more safety measures.

A Gaelcholaiste student was hit by a car last Thursday as he made his way to school. He was later brought to hospital but his injuries were described as minor.

Parents and school bodies have repeatedly raised safety concerns about traffic in the area, as little as three weeks before the third year pupil was knocked down.

The student was crossing the road at the pedestrian crossing between Gaelcholaiste Cheatharlach and Presentation College when he was struck by a car.

High volumes of traffic for the two primary schools, two secondary schools and Askea church regularly converge to cause major delays. Hundreds of students going to and from the four schools are in danger every day as they cross O’Brien Road and the inner road around Askea church.

According to John McDarby, part-time road safety officer with Carlow County Council, a number of “lucky near misses” in recent months have caused parents to call for increased road safety.

“People have had concerns about that area. There have been a number of near misses with primary school children over the past while. There is a lot of traffic on O’Brien Road in the mornings and it does need to be looked at,” added Mr McDarby.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

That Kelvin Brady is looking forward to playschool and Santa Claus, like any other four-year-old, are amazing steps in his young life, as he recovers from a rare form of cancer.

His mother Ellen Tinnelly from Collops in Kingscourt told The Anglo-Celt that Kelvin has completed his treatment for Neuroblastoma (a rare and aggressive form of cancer), which was diagnosed back in 2009. The cancer was attached to his adrenal gland beside his left kidney and he has been receiving treatment in Crumlin Hospital for two years. He had to endure intensive chemotherapy for one year and picked up a number of infections including the swine flu. He can now resume life as a four-year-old.
(Source: The Anglo Celt)
Clare

The clergy of the county are concerned that parishioners may be afraid to go to church during the day following a substantial number of burglaries and thefts from churches during daylight hours.

Gardaí in Clare have recorded 12 of thefts from churches in the past four months, with the first incident logged on August 7.

While gardaí can’t say these “despicable” crimes are being perpetrated by one individual or a group, they believe the majority of them are connected.

The Clare Champion has learned that on one occasion in August, a donation box was stolen from Ennis Cathedral during a funeral and on another occasion earlier that month, a handbag was stolen in Lifford Church during mass.

Churches at Kilnamona, Kilmaley, Connolly, Coolmeen, Rath, Kilmore Broadford, Lissycasey and Clouna have all been hit in the past four months. In most instances candelabra units and donation boxes were taken, with brass candle stands taken in others. There have been some attempts to gain access to sacristies but in some cases nothing was taken.

Chief Superintendent John Kerin has dubbed this “a really nasty and despicable crime” and is appealing for information from the public to help with the ongoing investigation.

“We believe more churches may have been the subject of crime but, in some cases, the priests might not know. Crime prevention officer Sergeant Joe Downey has met with the Bishop of Killaloe and staff and spoke to them about the problem and heard their concerns. He made crime prevention recommendations for churches around the county and they are now looking at those. The problem is that the clergy can’t close the churches.
(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

The late Rory Gallagher hit the headlines again last week with another petition celebrating the Cork guitarist’s talent.

This time the petition is to induct the blues rocker into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The campaign received a boost when former Guns N’Roses guitarist Slash asked his fans to sign the petition. Slash who played with Gallagher in the past, said on Twitter: “Please sign this petition to help get Rory Gallagher inducted into RRHF."

More than 11,100 people have signed the petition already. Gallagher sold around 30 million records before he died in 1995 from complications after he received a liver transplant.

Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, Donegal but moved to Cork when he was young. Rory attended the North Monastery School and started playing guitar at the age of nine.

In 1972 he was named International Guitarist of the Year and was known to be one of the best guitarists in the world for many years.

Last month, Rory's brother Donal brought Rory’s famous sunburst 1961 Stratocaster guitar out of retirement in order to allow Joe Bonamassa to perform with it on his two nights at the London Hammersmith Apollo. Joe opened both nights’ performances with his rendition of ‘Cradle Rock’ using the guitar.

Artists are eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame once their first record was released more than 25 years ago.
Source: (Cork Independent)
Derry

The heartbroken family of a murdered Derry man say they’ve been left in a state of limbo as a result of the tragedy.

Self employed tradesman Damien Keenan died in the early hours of Thursday morning after being stabbed in his Francis Street home on Tuesday afternoon.

The father and grandfather celebrated his 51st birthday only two days prior to the attack.

Speaking exclusively to the Journal his children Paul and Michelle described their sense of “loss and bereavement”.

Paul Keenan said: “We have been left in limbo, everything happened so suddenly and we don’t know the full story yet.

“We just want him home so we can make the arrangements for his funeral but we don’t even know how long that will be as police investigations are ongoing.”

Mr. Keenan, who is originally from a well respected family in the Carnhill area, only recently remarried. He and his new bride had moved into their Francis Street home a number of weeks ago.
(Source: Derry Journal)

Donegal

The Mayor of Bundoran, Sinn Féin Cllr. Mick McMahon, has congratulated gardaí on recovering 500,000 euro worth of cannabis plants in a recent raid on a premises on the outskirts of Tullaghan.

Mayor McMahon said: “Gardaí carried out an operation last Friday in which they recovered a substantial amount of drugs that were being grown in the building. I would like to congratulate them on their great work. Parents can sleep soundly knowing that these drugs, at least, will not make their way on to our streets.”

A garda spokesperson said that the drugs seizure of the cannabis plants was made at 9.30am following a planned search at a warehouse at Gargrim, Kinlough, Co Leitrim.

The spokesperson said: “It was a highly sophisticated process for growing cannabis, using the use of elaborate lighting.”

The operation involved Gardaí from Manorhamilton District, the Drug Unit/Task Force from Sligo and the Garda National Drugs Unit.

Two males, Chinese nationals aged 29 and 50, were arrested at the scene.
(Source: Donegal Democrat)
Down

Death row dog Lennon has been granted a last minute reprieve – as a Belfast judge considers one final appeal to spare his life.

Owner Caroline Barnes and her disabled Brooke have been offered fresh hope in their battle to save Lennox from death.

The pitbull style dog was sentenced to be put down after he was seized by dog wardens in Belfast in May 2010.

The dog has been held at a pound ever since then as experts debate whether or not he is an American bulldog as Caroline claims.

Wardens claimed that Lennox is a banned pitbull-type dog who poses a danger to the public. They also alleged he attacked two people near the family home.

Belfast County Court judge Henry Rodgers agreed with the wardens last month and ordered that Lennox be put down.

A worldwide campaign has since been launched to save Lennox and owner Barnes has now lodged a final appeal to spare his life.
(Source: Irish Central)
Dublin

Priory Hall families fear they will not be able to return home for Christmas after being left in limbo.

Some 240 residents of the north Dublin apartments remain evacuated from the complex because of fire safety concerns.

Now their fate is unclear because both Dublin City Council, and former IRA hunger striker Tom McFeely, who built the units, say they haven't the money to rectify the problems.

In the High Court, the council secured the removal of McFeely's workers from the complex but says it has no money to pay for a new contractor to complete the fire safety works.

McFeely, his company and workers were ordered by the High Court to leave by 6pm on Friday after the council complained about a lack of progress.

A new contractor has been identified but the council has no funds to pay for the work.

Mr McFeely denied there was any breach of court orders but his lawyers said he would not object to being replaced if that was what the council wanted.

Labour councillor Brian McDowell welcomed the decision, saying the residents were always concerned that the developer who built the apartments was also doing the fire safety repairs.

"There is a long way to go in reaching a final resolution to all the problems with Priory Hall but I think (it was) was a good day for the residents," Mr McDowell said.
(Source: The Evening Hearld)

Fermanagh

The Irish gaelic footballer assaulted and seriously injured in a match just days after he arrived in San Francisco has re-lived the horror attack.

Now home in Fermanagh, Mark McGovern spoke to Irish radio presenter Des Cahill about his harrowing ordeal last June.

The 23-year-old arrived back in the village of Belcoo last week after a 14 day trip by sea and land from the West Coast of America.

As his family come to terms with the $1.2 million cost of his medical care, police are investigating the assault involving opponent Patrick Power of the San Francisco Celts club.

Power has received a 96-week ban from all GAA activities and is under investigation by local police after the fracas with McGovern, playing his first game for the Ulster club just days after landing in America.

McGovern’s family were told to prepare for the worst when they first visited their son in a California hospital, such was the horrific nature of his head and brain injuries.

But the Fermanagh county player has defied medical opinion, first by regaining consciousness and then with his recovery to the extent that doctors in the U.S. were delighted to give him permission last month to return home.

“The long journey home was accompanied by a sense of relief,” McGovern told Cahill on RTE radio.
“I don’t really remember much about what happened. The lad hit me a couple of times. I gave him a box just to let him know I was there, but he kept hitting me.

“Later on, when I ran forward to help take a ball, he pretty much came up and whacked me. I can’t really remember what happened afterwards.”

Now under medical care in his home village, McGovern conceded that it will be some time before he is completely recovered from his ordeal.

“My speech still has to be worked on; my balance, too, has a lot to be said for it,” he told Cahill.
“I’ll have rehab running for the next six months, probably longer. I can’t work, can’t drive and can’t drink, either. It’ll be a quiet year for me.”

A fund has been set-up to help the McGovern family cope with the mounting cost of Mark’s treatment.
(Source: Irish Central)
Galway

A man in charge of a Golden Retriever when it attacked a three years old child who approached the restrained animal outside a city supermarket, was fined €500 when he appeared before Galway District Court on Wednesday.

Gerard Hennelly (31), with an address at 112 Fana Burca, Western Distributor Road, had pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog that was not under effectual control, contrary to the Control of Dogs Act 1986.

At 5pm on the evening in question he tied his own dog, and the Golden Retriever, outside Dunnes Stores in Knocknacarra.

While he was inside the supermarket the child approached the animal, which reacted by biting the boy’s face and ear. Inspector Sean Glynn handed photographs of the injuries into Judge Fahy, which he described as “horrific.”

The mother of the child told the court that she and her children were coming from the pharmacy nearby when her daughter ran ahead, and her son had followed, but stopped when he saw the dog.
She said that her son had undergone plastic surgery to rectify the injuries sustained.

Solicitor for Hennelly, Tomás McHale, said that his client’s intentions were good on the day, and that he had simply stopped outside Dunnes Stores to buy a bottle of water for himself. He had tied up the dogs and was paying for the drink when a security man approached him.

“The dog was put down since, it was insured, and the company has been notified of the incident,” he said.

“It is very unfortunate, he was the person in control at the time, so the responsibility rests with him,” the solicitor added.
(Source: GalwayBay Fm)
Kerry

The new lower drink driving limits appear to have had an instant impact on drivres across the county.

Over the bank holiday weekend just seven people were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.

Gardaí, who rolled out extra checkpoints across the county, said the number of arrests was down on previous bank holidays and attributed the dip to the new lower limits.

In the Killarney garda district there was just one arrest for drunk driving all weekend and local gardaí said the new limits had "obviously frightened people."

In the Cahersiveen district, which covers the majority of south Kerry, there were drunk driving arrests at all, which local gardaí said was "unusual" and that people were "obviously a bit more aware of the law."

The Tralee District, which also covers West Kerry, saw two drunk driving arrests, which was described as "a slight drop."

The most arrests were made in North Kerry where gardaí in the Listowel District arrested four suspected drunk drivers. While much higher than in the rest of the county, local gardaí said the figure was "not unusually high for a bank holiday."'

The new legislation, which came into effect from midnight last Thursday saw the introduction of a new breath test limit of 22mgs of alcohol - down from 35mgs - per 100mls of breath for an experienced driver, and nine mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath for learner and professional drivers.
(Source: Kerryman)

Kildare

A 16-year-old girl who died after being struck by a car was described as "an angel" by her parents.
Sinead Condren died on May 23 after being struck by a car on the Celbridge-Leixlip road, an inquest heard last week.

The transition year student from Mountsackville College was described at her funeral as an angel by her parents who urged both family and friends to celebrate her life.

The inquest was adjourned at Dublin Coroner's Court pending directions from Director of Public Prosecutions.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell put the case back to December 2 next for further mention. Sinead was struck at an area just off the M4 close to an Applegreen service station west of Leixlip.

She was taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

The driver of the car involved in the accident, a man in his 20s, was not injured .

At her funeral, her father John recalled Sinead as a "wonderful daughter.

"She's given us 16 years of beautiful memories and now she's an angel".

Originally from Maynooth, the schoolgirl was an avid horse fanatic as well as a lover of hip-hop and a passionate supporter of Leinster rugby.

Schoolfriends remembered someone who was willing to mentor younger students, confident and caring and always willing to help others.

Her dance teacher, Deirdre Brennan, told the Herald that Sinead's death has left her friends devastated.

"She just was so nice and so happy. She didn't have a bad bone in her body," she added.

Parish priest the Rev Fr Liam Rigney said her death meant "lives will never be the same again".
(Source: Evening Herald)

Kilkenny

After a 16-year hiatus, Power’s Pub in Tullahought has opened its doors. The iconic licensed premises has played host to tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers and stars from stage and screen who happened upon Tullahought in their travels.

The pub has been renovated refitted and extended but the building retains its character from its style of roof through its new sash windows and doors and it retains the village post-box in its window.

The bar now has a snug, bar, music room and lounge but maintains the traditional atmosphere. The hostelry is under the management of another family member of the original owners Margaret and Jim Power - That is the former Mount Sion and Windgap hurler Pat Power.
(Source: Kilkenny People)
Laois

A man who dragged a garda along with his car after refusing to stop for him has been jailed for two and half years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Thomas Ward (33) of Riverview, Ashgrove, Mountmellick was ordered to stop his Honda Integra when gardai spotted him driving in a bus lane on Bachelor’s Walk in Dublin city centre.

He refused to do so and Gardai Dean Keogh and Steven Kelly followed him on foot. Ward got caught in traffic and turned the car engine off when the two gardai approached.

Gda Keogh told Mr Kerida Naidoo BL, prosecuting, that he was checking Ward’s tax and insurance discs when Ward started the engine and tried to drive off.

Garda Keogh was almost pinned against a truck that had been stopped in traffic ahead of Ward but managed to get out of the way.

Gda Kelly was leaning into the window of the Integra at the time and was dragged along with the vehicle as Ward mounted a footpath causing pedestrians to jump out of the way.

Ward continued to drive, breaking two red lights as he turned onto Eden Quay with Gda Kelly still hanging out the vehicle’s window.
(Source: Leinster Express)
Leitrim

With the second anniversary of the devastating floods of 2009 later this month there is growing concern that too little has been done to ensure that a repeat scenario won’t re-occur in Co Leitrim.

The absence of any major funding for Leitrim Village in particular, has been especially galling for residents who were left inundated two years ago.

The recent flooding in the east of the country has already attracted calls for greater investment in flood prevention for larger, high-value residential and commercial urban areas and the fear is that these areas will be prioritised ahead of rural counties like Leitrim.

Earlier this year the OPW came in for criticism for allocating no funding to Co Leitrim in the first round of funding in 2011 for Minor Flood Works, despite the fact that large tracts of the county were severely impacted in November 2009.
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

A woman rescued by two men from the Mulcair River in Annacotty after she jumped in to save her dog has highlighted the need for life buoys.

Jill Baird was strolling behind the Riverbank estate in Annacotty when her Jack Russell, Poppy, went chasing a rat.

“She disappeared and failed to return when called. I decided to explore a track down to the water. I found a three foot drop onto another part of the bank,” she said.

“I gingerly looked over the steep bank into the river about four feet below to see my dog treading water in a small culvert. The river is fast flowing in the centre, but calm by the banks so, without thinking, I slid myself into the water, and was lucky that my feet found a stone to support me. Either I had to leave the dog to drown or do something about it. The banks were steep so there was no way she could have got out,” said the brave Ms Baird.

After entering the water, Ms Baird then found that the bank, as well as being sheer, was undercut under the water level so she had no foothold to climb out.

“I decided to shout for help, and luckily, it being a quiet day, two men heard me and pulled me out,” said Ms Baird. She reckons she was in the water for over five minutes but with her adrenalin flowing she hardly felt the cold water flowing..
(Source: Limerick Leader)

Longford

People are becoming afraid to walk the streets of Longford town because it is “full of scumbags,” a local councillor told a joint policing committee meeting last week.

Cllr Gerry Warnock said that these were the comments of his constituents, many of whom raised concerns at latest crime figures.

He said two other concerns were that people no longer felt safe walking through the town due to an apparent rise in drug-related offences.

“I did a survey and the three answers I got back were that it (Longford town) is full of scumbags, it’s full of drugs and people don’t feel safe,” he said.

The independent councillor said as a father, he felt concerned at the sense of anxiety that now existed within the local community, claiming Longford was currently in the grip of a “huge, huge” drugs epidemic.

“I remember a time in Longford when people felt safe to go outside of their doors and to tip into town for a pint,” he complained, as he hit out at dwindling garda resources to combat the problem.
(Source: Longford Leader)

Louth

Two petrol stations were closed and almost 160,000 litres of fuel seized during a nationwide crackdown on laundered fuel and the shadow economy.

The operation by Revenue's customs officers and armed gardai also resulted in the seizure of 39,000 euro under the Proceeds of Crime legislation.

Raids were carried out on Thursday on 10 filling stations, two private residences and a fuel depot in counties Dublin, Galway and Louth.

A Mayo man has been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of regularly sexually assaulting two children in the pub where he worked over eleven years ago.

The 39-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of sexual assault and 13 counts of oral rape against one girl, as well as 14 counts of sexual assault, 13 counts of oral rape and one count of anal rape against the second child, between June 1999 and September 2000.

The girls were between eight and ten years old at the time of the alleged offences.

Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan remanded the man in custody and adjourned sentencing to later this month.

Earlier in the trial, the first complainant, now 20 years old, told Ms Deirdre Murphy SC, prosecuting, that she and her best friend would go to her mother’s work place after school and would watch cartoons in a nearby pub where they regularly used the toilet.

She said that they began to be sexually abused together during their visits by the accused who was a bar man.

She said he would give them money and gave her cigarettes and cider. She said she ‘became addicted to smoking’ after that.
(Source: The Mayo News)
Meath

The owner of a family-run shop, robbed by a drug addict armed with a meat cleaver, has said that he has lived in fear since the attack and has now ceased trading.

Last week, Peter Nolan (29) from Celbridge, Co Kildare, was jailed for three years after robbing shops at knifepoint in Summerhill and Baconstown while on heroin in April of this year.

At Trim Circuit Court on Friday, the owner of the Dargan's Gala in Baconstown, Matthew Dargan, told the court of the effect of the robbery: "As a result of that robbery and a number of others over the years, I have decided to cease trading from this weekend. Every customer that comes in, I'm nervous and watching. I've decided I can no longer do it. I am just waiting for another robbery."

Speaking after Nolan's conviction, Mr Dargan said he had been burgled a few times already before the April 2010 robbery, but that now he had stepped aside from the family business of almost 60 years and three generations.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

Monaghan

NOB Nation joker Oliver Callan has dismissed rumours he is homophobic - by revealing he is gay.
The comic from Co Monaghan said he felt like "literally the only gay in the village" when he came out in his tiny home town.

The 30-year-old officially revealed his sexuality live on TV after a whispering campaign that claimed he is a homophobe.

He was accused of being anti-gay due to sketches on David Norris and GAA star Paul Galvin.
Callan also told RTE's Saturday Night Show told of the mental torture he suffered because of his sexuality.

He added: "I've been called a fag, a daisy, a fairy, a pansy, a queer, all of that down through the years.
"I'm from a very small part of Co Monaghan and coming out probably made me literally the only gay in the village.

"Obviously everybody says you're born that way, but in all honesty when I was 11 or 12 I just knew I was different.

"I felt like a Protestant on the Falls and I knew I was different to my older brother who started driving the tractor when he was eight.

"I'm not singing I'm gay and proud. I'm saying I'm gay and I don't give a s**t and neither should anyone else." Callan, 30, said he was telling people about his sexuality because he did not want to be labeled a homophobe.
(Source: Irish Times)
Offaly

Over 76,000 people are now residing in county Offaly, representing an 8% increase in population in the last five years.

The figures were published recently in the Statistical Yearbook compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The information is derived from the administrative work of Government departments, semi state bodies and local authorities.

The tables in this yearbook were prepared during August 2011 and in general, they contain details relating to 2010. Some of these results are provisional and are subject to revision.

The information shows there were 1,231 births, which represents 2.9% of the total births in Leinster in 2010. Last year, there were 872 deaths in Offaly, representing just over 6% of the total deaths in the province.

Meanwhile, according to the statistics, there almost a halving of the number of new cars registered for the first time from 2001 to 2010
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

A private company is to take over the management of a number of hospitals in the HSE West region, including Roscommon County Hospital. It has emerged that the Department of Health has begun the tender process, and it is reported that five private companies are already competing to secure a contract. It will involve managing University Hospital Galway (UHG), Merlin Park Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital and Roscommon County Hospital.

The Roscommon Hospital Action Committee said last week that the proposals just don’t make any sense. HAC spokesperson John McDermott said: “Everyone knows what’s needed is more front-line staff and not more management. The priorities are all wrong.”

Spokesperson with the trade union IMPACT Mr. Padraig Mulligan says the move is unacceptable and makes no sense. IMPACT said the move would "effectively privatise hospital services in the western region by stealth".
(Source: The Roscommon People)
Sligo

A case of alleged drunk driving against a Leitrim County footballer who is also a Garda will be heard at Sligo District Court, possibly in December.

State Solicitor, Mr. Hugh Sheridan told Judge Kevin Kilrane on Thursday last that there would be CCTV evidence in the case against Emlyn Mulligan, Kinlough which would mean it would have to be heard at Sligo Courthouse where a courtroom was set up for such purposes.

It had been previously indicated the matter would go ahead at Manorhamilton Court in December to allow Judge Mary Devins hear the case after Judge Kilrane disbarred himself from it.

Mulligan, who is represented by Mr. Gerard Mcgovern, solicitor is charged with drunk driving at Lake Isle Road, Sligo on January 17th and with not having tax on his car on the same occasion.

Judge Kilrane adjourned the case for mention to Sligo Court on November 10th when a date will be fixed for hearing, most likely in December.
(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

Gardai who were called to an incident at Main Street, Roscrea, found two men rolling around on the street and they refused to separate when asked to, the local court heard.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath was told that the incident happened on July 30, 2011, at 9.14pm and that there was a strong smell of alcohol from Michael Purcell of Ashbury, Roscrea.

The defendant’s solicitor, Michael Breen, told the court that his client had an “awful lot of drink. He was with a friend and he accepts his behavior was out of order.”

He said that Mr Purcell helped out in the local boxing club, including organizing tournaments.
Judge MacGrath remanded him on continuing bail to the December court for a probation report.
(Source: Tipperary Star)
Tyrone

Two people who were arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was dragged from a car in Co Tyrone have been released unconditionally.

The 38-year-old man died after the incident in the Castle Hill area of Dungannon in Co Tyrone.

According to police, the victim was pulled from a green car close to the busy Market Square area at around 1pm. A 29-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man were arrested and questioned by detectives before being released after a post-mortem examination showed the man died of natural causes.

It is understood he was from the Travelling community and was living in apartments close to the scene of his death.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Waterford

Over the past 25 years, one family of 17 has never missed a single day of school and between them they have 158 attendance certificates to prove it.

Josie Moran, from Kilcohan Park, has always emphasised the importance of a good education for her twelve children and then later on, she sent the same strong message to five of her eleven grandchildren that are now going to school.

Every year, for the past 25 years, Josie has looked on proudly as all of her children and grandchildren have had their shining attendance records recognised and celebrated by successive Mayors of the city.

Josie said, "Every time one of them brings home a cert, there’s another photo and they’re nice to have – it just makes me very proud of them all. I know that they’ll be able to say that they went to school for their mother."

Josie only attended school until she made her Confirmation, and when she married her husband Pierce 30 years ago, they both felt that the best gift they could give their children was a good education.

Josie said, “I made my Confirmation and finished school then, so it was important to me to put my children through school the best I could, and I’m delighted now that all of the grandkids are going through school as well.”

She added, “If the kids don’t get a good education, then what else do they have behind them.”

Right through the years, Josie and her husband Pierce have encouraged the children to go to school and praised them when they did well. Josie said, “If you encourage them and praise them, they want to do well to impress you, and then they start enjoying school and they want to do well for themselves. They all did well in school and in time their certs could get them a job down the line – they will always have something to fall back on.” Josie said, "You would see children who would have been off school for more days than they were there, and that really annoys me.
(Source: Waterford News & Star)

Westmeath

Athlone District Court Judge Seamus Hughes has warned of the serious damage being caused by heroin in this area and called for tough action to be taken against the 'drug lords' who supply it.

"There is a trail of destruction being left behind by drug dealers," commented Judge Hughes during a case involving an 18-year-old heroin addict at the district court on Wednesday last.

"It is heartbreaking to see people like this young man in court. I fear dearly for the lives of these young people.

"The toughest possible action needs to be taken against the 'drug lords' who are supplying heroin in this town. They should be hounded out of the place."

Garda Inspector Aidan Minnock said he agreed fully with the judge's remarks.

Another case last Wednesday involved a 26-year-old woman who is on a methadone treatment programme but is continuing to take heroin. During this case, the judge said he had noticed an increase in the number of females coming before him with serious drug problems.

"Regrettably, I'm seeing more girls coming in here to court. Physically, you deteriorate so much after taking heroin. You develop twitches and become emaciated - and that's just one aspect of it. It has such an adverse physical impact on your body," he told the defendant.

(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

The 24th Winter Shore Angling Festival will be hosted on Co Wexford's east-facing beaches from 26-28 January, the Gorey Guardian reports. Ireland's Dave Roe will be aiming to repeat his winning effort last year in a strong field of contenders that will also include UK match angling greats Alan Yates and Chris Clarke.

Codling, whiting, dab, coalfish and rockling will be the top catches over the weekend competition, which last year had a total prize fund of more than €8,000.

And even those not competing will get a lot out of watching the best match anglers using the latest equipment and techniques to gain the edge over their opponents.
(Source: Afloat.ie)

Wicklow

A Bray man who wouldn't pay a €20 taxi fare caused over €1,000 worth of damage to the car with a lump of timber.

The incident occurred at 11.10 p.m. on August 13 at Oldcourt Park in Bray.

Garda Robert Carty was called to the scene where it emerged that Thomas Moorehouse (19), 7A Oldcourt Park, had been picked up from Rochestown Avenue and had refused to pay the fare near his home.

A struggle ensued between Moorehouse and the driver, during which the defendant threatened to stab the driver with a night.

He went off, but had dropped his phone so returned to the scene to get it. He ended up smashing the driver's own phone against a nearby pillar and subsequently damaged the roof and side panels of the car.
(Source: The Wicklow People)

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